MovieChat Forums > Boys Don't Cry (2000) Discussion > Brandon Was NOT Innocent

Brandon Was NOT Innocent

posted 11 years ago by JaysonT
41 replies | jump to latest

This is one of my favorite films, but something that no one ever mentions that is a glaring white elephant in the room was that - - - - -

1. Brandon Teena was a LIAR. He lied about pretty much everything, to cover his own butt and I guess to get girls. I know that sounds black and white, and that Lana was finally the girl he could be 100% honest with, but that's doesn't excuse his previous actions. Yet people on these boards defend his actions because of the whole "But she was in love, she didn't deserve to be raped and murdered." No one deserves rape and murder, but at least admit what led up to those outcomes.

2. Brandon Teena was a THIEF. Countless crimes, stealing cars, in and out of court and prison. Not for being a Transgender. But for being a thief.

3. Brandon Teena WOULD NOT change. He would continue to lie and do crime even if Lana and him made it to Lincoln.

As much as I hated the mother, she made a point when she told her daughter: "The majority of what Teena told us was lies." Pretty much.

Any thoughts on this?

[–] moosefeathers 11 years ago

For all intents and purposes, she raped Lana. Rape is rape. A woman violating another woman under the guise of being a man. I'd call that rape.

These days, when a criminal is hurt or killed, we glorify them and make them saints and it seems we should forgive all their evil deeds. Teena was just a low life who got into the wrong crowd of people who were badder and more mentally unstable than she was and she unfortunately paid the ultimate price by being violated and with her life. That part of it is definetly a shame. No one deserves to die like that.

Swing away, Merrill....Merrill, swing away...

[–] 11 years ago

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[–] moosefeathers 11 years ago

Like, OH MOY GAHD, YOU TOTALLY TOLD ME OFF.

Please, child.

Swing away, Merrill....Merrill, swing away...

[–] manofsteel4455 10 years ago

At the end of the day. Someone died because of Brandon's deceiving.And now a child will grow up without a mother.

[–] KristenStewartForever 9 years ago

Shut up!! Brandon was innocent and that is final.

[–] PricelessStar 9 years ago

Brandon did NOT rape Lana! Brandon made love with Lana still believing he was a real guy and he didn't even feel anything, he just made love with her for her pleasure because he loved her! That is superromantic instead of all disgusting guys just out to please themselves! Brandon really cared for Lana and did it for her! Without feeling anything himself! Superromantic! Lana was not raped! He didn't violate her! She wanted to have sex with him regardless if he had a real penis or not! Brandon was innocent! Brandon was a he! Brandon was not a criminal! He was not a low life! Brandon was not mentallt ill. He was completely normal, just born in the wrong body! You are just so ignorant!

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] selenedm999 9 years ago

I didn't read the whole thread, so I'm not sure what others' responses have been.

I think that was part of the point. Brandon wasn't a sympathetic person at the start, but NO ONE "deserves" what happened to him. Not the most hardened criminal.

He was a petty thief, a liar, and a general screwup, and he's not a hero by any means. One of the things that makes the film so powerful is how dark it is. It's depressing and distressing, and no one wins in the end. It's also a very good example of the times in which it was made and became popular, and even the times in which it was set/happened in real life.

The best art makes us look at all sides of ourselves, including the dark parts so we can deal with them.

Brandon was a real person, with a lot of flaws. If he had lived, he probably would have continued to screw up. He's probably not a person most people would have spent much time getting to know. The movie took a close look at his life and his actions, and made him sympathetic because he was so flawed. There's something genuine in that, and I think that's what makes this movie such a gem.

[–] Stenian 8 years ago

Very well said. Totally agree.

Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months.

[–] KristenStewartForever 9 years ago

Brandon WAS INNOCENT!!

[–] PricelessStar 9 years ago

Brandon was INNOCENT!! All others saying otherwise are really sick and you should be ashamed of yourselves!!! He was a sweet heart!!

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] 9 years ago

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[–] [deleted] 5 years ago

she had issues for sure.

[–] TheArgentinian (7251) 5 years ago

Typical conservative tactic when a minority gets killed by the police. "He was no innocent"

[–] Druff (1845) 4 years ago

Why the fuck would you think you needed to point any of this out? It's all right there in plain sight in the movie. Anybody who's seen the movie already knows everything you posted. There was no point in posting any of that. Nobody ever said Brandon Teena was innocent. (Of course they said it in response after you posted, just to mess with you.) You were never interested in discussion, all you did was build a strawman so you could beat it up.